Health Insurance for Pregnant Women

What is Covered under Health Insurance for Pregnant Women?

Never more during the life of a woman is health insurance more necessary than during pregnancy and childbirth, due to the exorbitant costs of hospitalization and delivery the average estimates cost between $6-20,000 depending upon the type of delivery and where the woman lives.  Due to certain inclusions or clauses contained in a health insurance policy, pregnancy can be denied entirely because of being labeled as a pre-existing condition or only a certain percentage of the costs might be covered.

There are many different types of medical insurance policies and what is covered during pregnancy will vary according to the age of the woman, the type of pregnancy she is experiencing (normal, high-risk or multiple birth), overall health and the state the individual resides within, all have direct bearings on what services and costs will be absorbed.  Generally, a woman will have to go through a series of routine obstetrical visits throughout her pregnancy, undergo blood testing, sexually transmitted disease screenings, gestational diabetes testing, medical and/or diagnostic ultrasounds and health evaluations. 

Each test is necessary to ensure the woman is having a normal pregnancy and that the health of mother and child is not in any danger.  Routine office visits to her obstetrician/gynecologist will measure the weight gain, pregnancy progress, fetal health, blood pressure, fundal height and note any cervical changes.  Which costs and how much of the expense is covered by health insurance will depend upon the type of policy the woman has and what the fees are charged by the care providers involved.

What is State Sponsored Health Insurance?

For women that cannot afford to pay for private insurance policies or are not eligible for being covered during pregnancy, certain states offer a variety of different health care programs for low-income or unemployed or uninsured individuals.   State sponsored health insurance is available to people that qualify due to income restrictions which fall at or below the federal poverty level and if a person makes too much money, it could exempt a woman from being considered.  There are also other types of state sponsored health insurance available for a woman that is denied pregnancy coverage because it is considered a pre-existing condition.  Which programs are offered by what state will vary and some states do not offer any programs, a woman will need to check with the health insurance department of the state in which she lives for further information.

Why is Health Insurance during Pregnancy so Important?

According to statistical information, there are approximately 41 million Americans that are lacking medical insurance or are not insured as adequately as possible.  As a result of these statistics, 13% of pregnant women each year face childbirth without having the proper insurance coverage, which means that they might not get the best prenatal care possible.  With inadequate or lax health insurance coverage, a woman not getting good prenatal care puts herself and her baby at great risk for complications and problems. 

Through early prenatal care, some medical conditions can be detected and managed before becoming a larger problem.  Early prenatal care and diagnostic tests can also determine if the fetus is healthy or has any type of genetic disorders which could have a direct impact on the health of the mother and child.  The importance of early prenatal care and routine obstetrical visits could and does have a direct impact on whether or not a woman will have a normal, uneventful pregnancy and a healthy childbirth.  When medical insurance for pregnant women is provided, the outcome is more likely to be a healthy one, but there are also alternatives available for those without insurance as well.

Other Options for Uninsured Pregnant Women

There are additional options that could effectively help a woman manage the costs of an uninsured pregnancy.  If a woman is delivering at a hospital, one option would be to contact the accounts office and arrange to set up a payment plan or to see if the institution offers payments based on a sliding fee scale.  Many hospitals located all across the country offer certain programs and services to low-income or uninsured individuals, asking about the options is the only way to find out about them.

If a woman is experiencing a healthy pregnancy, an alternative to delivering in the hospital might be giving birth at a woman’s clinic or birthing center. These facilities are set up with medical professionals who are trained in childbirth and normally work closely with a near-by hospital and can considerably reduce the costs of delivery by as much as half.  Many birthing centers provide the same standard of care as a hospital would, but for a woman expecting a normal delivery these facilities can be a life-saver in terms of saving money.

Another option for a woman with limited or no medical insurance is to choose a home-birth.  There are wonderful midwifes and doulas that are certified and skilled at delivering babies.  The certification level of midwives and doulas will vary from state to state, but most are nurses and nurse practitioners who specialize in pregnancy care, labor and delivery.  The home-birth route allows a woman to have more control over the birth plan, alleviates the expense of a hospital birth and can be a very rewarding and enriching choice for many mothers.

Read More: Health Problems During Pregnancy

Overview

Having a baby is a very serious decision which may or may not be intended and planned.  For those women that find themselves in the position of being pregnant without medical insurance, there are many options and choices available.  A woman needs to consider all the options available and find the best and most affordable care possible in order to ensure a healthy pregnancy and childbirth.  With all the considerations and alternatives such as midwives, doulas and birthing clinics, a woman needs to check into all the options as quickly as possible to ensure early prenatal care is obtained.  With a normal pregnancy, a woman can find an alternative other than a clinical, sterile hospital environment in which to give birth and can make the most of the experience for herself and her child.